2012 Fall Newsletter

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COLLEGE

DR. YOUSSEF

College-Age Fellowship Presents Evensong

One Nation Under God?

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LEADING THE WAY

STS

Biblical Faith at a Crossroads

STS Mission Testimonies

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TESTIMONY

THE PATH

A Testimony of God’s Work

By Susan Scott

Mentoring from the Heart

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WOMEN’S MINISTRY

SINGLE HEARTS FOR CHRIST

Widow’s Network & Christmas In July

A Testimony by Stacy Stubbs

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SMALL GROUPS

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APOSTLES @ FIVE

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love old hymns. at might sound like a dangerous admission from one who works with college students and high school seniors. You might be surprised, however, to discover that many college students appreciate the quality of vintage hymns and forms of worship. In fact, it is so prevalent that there is actually a term for this worship preference. It is called “Ancient-Modern Worship.” It reflects an interest in the beauty of old styles mixed with the best of modern worship. It is a generation that likes to see the old made new.

Years ago, I thumbed through a hymnal to discover a section of hymns with which I was unfamiliar. ey were labeled simply, “Evening.” What I discovered was that these hymns were written particularly for an evening prayer service. I was immediately struck by the beauty of the concept of returning on Sunday at the close of day and surrendering the week to come to the Lord. I found it especially beautiful, considering the stress we encounter in the ordinary routine of the week.

Daily life tends to rob us of a sense of the eternal majesty of God. e little aggravations and the big disappointments of living in a fallen world build to a swelling crescendo that deafens us to the Spirit’s whispers. e heart is weighed down by the burden of life and eyes shi from the realities of heaven to thoughts of mere subsistence. at is why, in worship, we come to refuel, refocus, and recalibrate our lives to God’s agenda. e music transports us, the Word informs us, and in prayer we unload the burdens of our heart and trade them for Christ’s Cross; a burden the Lord says is light. Yet it is only light if we trust in the strength He provides and we only have that strength when we seek Him. e intention of the old evening prayer services was to focus us on that strength in Christ.

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In the hymn Abide with Me: Fast Falls the Eventide, this concept of laying it all at the Cross and fixing our focus on Him takes center stage. “Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies: heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee: in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.” Evening is used as a metaphor for death and the darkness of the sin-ravaged world and in that context we “rest” in Christ and the riches of His mercy and grace. Our hearts are recalibrated to His purpose for us, understanding we are salt and light in the world.

Evensong was the name of the Anglican service of evening prayer. e name has a stunning beauty all of its own; though darkness approaches, yet we will sing of our Redeemer because He will come to deliver us. is fall College-Age Fellowship will seek to draw on the old Evensong service. While it won’t follow the old Anglican service format, it will expand on its concept. Evensong will be a time for college students to come together for praise, prayer and small group conversation that is centered on a short devotional thought. It will be a time where we seek Spiritual renewal and reorient our focus on Christ as we face the challenge of living for Christ.

Evensong is designed to complement the hearing of the Word at the Apostles at 5 evening service. We will gather at 6:45 p.m. for refreshments and fellowship and begin our time of praise at 7 p.m. in the new STS Lo. If you are a college student or know a college student who is moving to the area, tell them about the Apostles at 5 evening service and the Evensong college fellowship time at 6:45 p.m. You can direct them to Apostles.org/college or they can email me at zcarden@apostles.org. Evensong begins on Sunday night, September 9.

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From the desk of Dr. Michael Youssef

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s America still the land of the free and the home of the brave? Or is our nation dangerously adri on a sea of complacency and immorality? Too oen we are content to think only of our families and ourselves, and ignore the world around us.

Like the frog in lukewarm water—unaware that the water is boiling until it is too late to leap out—we, too, may be in more danger than we realize. When more than 3,000 babies are aborted every day, the Bible and the Ten Commandments are removed from the classroom, and prayer in the school is forbidden, it is time to assess where we are as a nation.

Psalm 33:12 states: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

We should ask ourselves, however, whether the Lord is still America’s God—or, like the children of Israel, are we now pursuing other gods? Although our Founding

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what we’ve already lost if God’s people will awake and rise up.

As an immigrant—now a naturalized citizen—to this great country, I would like to share some of my concerns for America. I have come to love America and its rich heritage. is country means so much to me because of the persecution I experienced in my birth country of Egypt. I know firsthand what it is like to be persecuted for one’s faith, and I understand the process that takes place in a country to get to that point.

When I observe these telltale signs rising everywhere in our country, it causes me great alarm.

It is time for us to become fully aware of the path our beloved country is following. ere are reasons why we are experiencing so many problems as a nation. We have turned away from God’s protection and blessing.”

Fathers based America’s important documents—such as the Declaration of Independence—on Christianity and the Bible, through indifference, ignorance, and neglect of biblical principles, we are in danger of losing our precious freedoms. However, it is still possible to reclaim

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magine with me the following scenario. Due to my kindness and hospitality, I decide one day to bring a young man into our house. He needs food, shelter, and a job—all of which we gladly provide for him. He also needs an identity, so we let him use our family name—

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giving him all the privileges and responsibilities of being in our family.

Aer a few years, the young man decides he doesn’t like the arrangement of the furniture, so he rearranges it without regard to the rest of the family. en, over our vigorous protests, he decides that family devotions are offensive to him, so he insists that our family must stop praying together. Moreover, he decides that having too many Bibles in the home is offensive to him, so he takes the Bibles away.

Finally, he tells me, “If you ever talk about your religious views publicly, I will have to take you to court be-

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cause I find your views offensive.” His attitude is reflected as follows, “You brought me into your family, you gave me all of the privileges and legal rights of being a member of the family. erefore, you have lost your rights to continue living your biblical and moral lifestyle because I don’t like it.”

He continues by saying, “I may be one of seven in this house, but because I believe that your belief system is out of date, I demand that you be silenced while I pillage and reinterpret your faith for you. I demand that you accept my new understanding of the foundational principles of your life.”

You are probably thinking, I can’t imagine a worse nightmare for my life and for my family’s life than that.

But something much like that has been happening in our own country of late. From my past, I know what it is to grow up in a family that has been subjected to socialism. I know, too, what it is like to lose family property. In the 1960s, family and friends lost everything they had worked for because the government seized their property and possessions. e argument, of course, was that the government knew how to handle these businesses better. We were told that it was only getting the rich “to pay their fair share.” et me caution you that these same things have been happening in America for the past several years. It is time for us to become fully aware of the path our beloved country is following. ere are reasons why we are experiencing so many problems as a nation. We have turned away from God’s protection and blessing.

Please continue to join me in praying for God’s mercy for America as we approach the November elections.

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“Our nation is adri morally, spiritually, economically, and politically. Currently, our nation is on the high seas without a rudder or a compass and those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our only anchor must now, more than ever, plead for Him to save this great nation by saving her people. If you are not burdened to pray for America, you have buried your head in the sand.”

Michael Youssef God Save America 2012

rom her biblical roots to her religious freedoms, America has long enjoyed the blessings of Almighty God. Yet, many American Christians take their faith for granted.

In a country where citizens can freely share their religious convictions, many remain quiet as secularism and humanism creep into mainline churches, watering down the Gospel message.

While nearly 80 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians, surveys reveal that many of them are cultural Christians who do not follow the basic tenants of the Christian faith. In recent years, nearly half of all adults have either changed or abandoned the religious

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or denominational affiliation of their childhood.

Although social and cultural influences are negatively affecting the church in America, many people are still yearning for Truth. Unfortunately, many Christians hesitate to share the Gospel because they have never experienced the power of the Gospel themselves.

In a recent Pew survey, over 54 percent of American evangelical Protestants said they believed people outside of the Christian faith could go to heaven. As the American church focuses less on teaching uncompromised biblical Truth and more on tolerance and social awareness, the central core of the Gospel, that Jesus is the only way to heaven, is being stripped away.

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With the country’s spirituality at a crossroads, many unbelievers and “cultural Christians” are trying to tear down the country’s spiritual heritage. Christian churches must return to teaching biblical Truth and individual Christians must step up and speak the Truth in love to the culture around them. e Church of e Apostles is taking a stand every day for biblical Truth in America through Leading e Way, Dr. Youssef ’s multi-media, international Biblical teaching ministry. rough radio, television, the Internet, and popular social media sites, Leading e Way is passionately proclaiming the message of the Cross, the inerrancy and relevance of the Word of God, and how to live a life of faith. People need to hear the Truth about who God is and what He has done for us. Christians need affirmation in their call to witness to the unbelievers in their lives.

With more than 2,814 radio and television programs aired in the United States each week through Leading e Way, millions of Americans are hearing the uncompromised Word of God. rough these broadcasts, people

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to be reached in our world…. I pray that God will richly bless you and your ministry as you reach the lost for Jesus.

God bless you and thank you once again for your faithfulness and preaching the Word of God. Others share how they are able to use the ministry to reach the nations with the Gospel. A partner from Montana wrote:

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ank you for being my voice of Christ to those I will never meet.... I truly believe Leading e Way fits and fulfills the Truth of the Lord and His Word…. I want to thank you for your prayers regarding a clearer vision and God using my discontentment to motivate me toward godly change. God is amazing!

America has historically been a beacon of Gospel hope to the world, but we are at a dangerous crossroads.

As we approach a critical election that will impact the future of our nation, Dr. Youssef has called Bible-believing Americans to join him in praying for God to save

With the country’s spirituality at a crossroads, many unbelievers and “cultural Christians” are trying to tear down the country’s spiritual heritage. Christian churches must return to teaching biblical Truth and individual Christians must step up and speak the Truth in love to the culture around them. have accepted Christ for the first time, while others have been strengthened in their faith and encouraged to reach out to others for Christ. Also, as more churches turn away from Biblical Truth, Leading e Way has become a daily encouragement to Bible-believing Christians to stay strong, and we oen hear from people from across the country who say that Michael Youssef is their pastor, too.

Some, like this Leading e Way viewer from Ohio, share how the teaching blesses them and encourages them to share with others:

America. In addition to those who have committed to pray for the nation through God Save America in this church, there are tens of thousands who have also committed through Leading e Way to unite with us in prayers for God’s mercy upon our nation. ank you for your partnership in this great ministry. e Church of e Apostles is having a spiritual impact in this nation as we passionately proclaim uncompromising Truth through the ministry of Leading e Way.

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if you would like more information or desire to partner directly with Leading e Way, please contact us at:

I want to thank you for your program on TBN. You have been such a blessing to me by watching your programs. You tell the truth and you don’t compromise. We need more preachers today who will teach truth and not compromise in our world today. So many preachers don’t even teach against sin. Most will just preach messages that tickle a person’s ear…. ere are so many souls

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LeadInG The Way 2 PO Box 20100 | Atlanta, GA 30325 * www.leadingtheway.org % Phone: 404-841-0100 + Email: giving@leadingtheway.org

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he human race has an uncanny strength about it. In the United States, for example, we stand in a rich tradition of people who simply have not understood the meaning of words such as “quit” or “impossible.” From settling the frontier to planting a flag on the moon, we have laughed at the seemingly impossible.

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he self-reliant, self-determining strength of humanlife. She began finding riches in her life with God: ity is staggering. It becomes, however, an insur“e trials gave me a perspective I never would have mountable stumbling block the moment we turn understood without them,” says Susan. “e trials drove our face to the heavens. me to seek His face when His hands seemed to be withSusan Scott has learned this lesson well. e oldest of holding what I wanted.” four children, no one needed to teach strength to Susan: She began to recognize the difference between trusting “Being the first-born of my siblings,” she explains, “I in God’s gis and trusting in the heart of the Giver, to had always been a ‘take charge’ sort of person—pretty trust that this Giver truly is ruling the universe, and to bossy and controlling.” learn to surrender her life to His care, especially when the roughout her life, however, God has been reshaping gis were not what she wanted. To value the Giver’s presSusan. Born into a family with heavy ence—not his presents—above all else.

“Self-reliant, Roman Catholic roots, Susan recalls how “I discovered that His ‘will for my her father insisted that she and her sibself-determined strength life’ is that I enjoy a deep and rich relalings be raised in the Protestant church. tionship with Him,” explains Susan. is an insurmountable Susan remembers committing her life to “He wants me to seek His face, not His stumbling block because hands. I am beginning to understand Jesus at the age of ten during a revival service. And reflecting on that converthat the delight of what His hands until we’re rid of it, sion, she can see that God has been might give me is nothing compared to we’ll never actually turn the love relationship He offers to share teaching her the strength of surrender.

Like most of the worthwhile lessons our face to the heavens.” with me—the sharing of Himself.”

God teaches, the call to surrender didn’t Self-reliant, self-determined strength come easily or efficiently. It came through struggle. She is an insurmountable stumbling block because until we’re struggled through trusting God with bringing her a husrid of it, we’ll never actually turn our face to the heavens. band. Aer that the struggle looked like trusting God But Susan has begun to trust that God invites us into a through infertility. en the struggle became how (and different kind of strength. A strength in weakness. A strength when!) God would provide children. en the struggle to in trusting that God is working all things for the good of trust God with their salvation. Most recently the struggle those who love him. (Rom 8:28) at His face can be seen to trust God with decades-long relationships rocked by dethrough His crucified and resurrected Son. (Jn 1:18) and that ceit and spite. And on and on it goes. eternal pleasures are in His right hand. (Ps 16:11)at His e struggles in our lives continue to go on. power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9).

Just ask her about it. Susan is learning the strength of But it was here—in the middle of her struggles—that surrender.

Susan learned one of the most important lessons of her

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had never given mentoring a thought until six years ago when my friend Gerald Lambert handed me a book called e Heart of Mentoring by David Stoddard. I read the book and was intrigued by the relational approach of an older guy sharing his life experiences with a younger man confronting the twists and turns of life’s path. My first thought was, “Boy, would I like a guy like that in my life.” I was in my mid 50s at the time and didn’t think I was the older guy that could share.

I just didn’t think I had anything that great that would be helpful to someone else. Aer all, I had made plenty of mistakes and didn’t accept Christ into my life until I was 51 years old.

But aer meeting for a year with Dave, Gerald, and a few others, God brought me to understand that my failures were as valuable as my successes. I certainly knew the consequences of some bad decisions. e

Path ministry was born out of those meetings and is now a source for facilitating mentoring partnerships and training mentors in the mentoring process. e need for mentors is great.

Anson Ramsey, who has been meeting with young men for many years, was attracted to the ministry. He was

easy for men to be transparent. It’s not what the world rewards.” e Path training stresses the value in your experiences and this value is realized through being transparent.

Young men don’t need perfect mentors. ey want someone who is real and understands what they are going through. Anson shares, “Some men

“Sharing your life with another is not only rewarding but potentially life changing...

Before I got involved in mentoring I was very self-centered even as a Christian. By calling me to this ministry God made that character flaw very clear to me. encouraged by the relational approach used by e Path. As Anson says, “I liked the idea of mentoring as a process, not a program. A one-sizefits-all approach doesn’t apply to people.” Anson knows well some of the things that block men from wanting to share their lives through mentoring. “Men in general are loath to expose themselves, fearing something will be perceived as failure. It’s not

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don’t think they are worthy to be a mentor but the truth is, God has made us worthy through Christ. He gave us the life experience to share.”

And then again there is the proverbial excuse, “I don’t have time.” Anson and I have found that you will get as much out of a mentoring partnership as you invest and soon you will be scheduling around your partner meetings.

e Path is all about walking side by side with a mentoring partner.

Anson says, “It’s more about listening than giving advice.” And he is right.

I usually find myself listening, empathizing, sharing my own experience, referencing Scriptures, and praying for my partners. We actually pray for each other and I find comfort in their prayers. It's pretty simple: just be yourself, willing to share and God will lead you through the process.

Sharing your life with another is not only rewarding but potentially life changing. Anson recalls, “Before I got involved in mentoring I was very self-centered even as a Christian. By calling me to this ministry God made that character flaw very clear to me. He gave me a way to change that and help young men at the same time. It has been a transforming experience.”

I understand what Anson means. I was very reluctant to answer God’s call. Now I value every minute with my mentoring partners. e Heart of Mentoring by David Stoddard is soundly based in biblical principles. Dave presents the concept of “Living is about giving” which is paramount to one’s being an effective mentor. Jesus is the best example of of someone giving his life for another. Not only did He die for us but He lived for us, walking with His disciples, sharing the Kingdom of God, and giving of Himself completely. As mentors we try in a small way to answer God’s call for us to be imitators of Christ. is fall e Path ministry will be conducting a seminar on the “e Ten Principles of Mentoring from the Heart.” We invite any man seeking God’s will for his life to attend the classes and learn more about what this could mean for you.

Please check the Sunday bulletin for dates and times.

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Widow’s Network T

WIDOW’S NETWORK he Widow’s Network is a “network” of the most gied ladies in the church. Not only are these ladies strong in the Lord with spiritual maturity that blesses all who meet them, but they also have hidden talents that are not oen declared! ere are several talented artists in the group. Some who are experts with the paint brush but would never declare they are professional! Look

closely at the signature on many of the paintings in our church. ere are writers, cooks, teachers, sewers, quilters, decorators, experienced travelers, and prayer warriors just to name a few gis among these ladies.

If you need prayer, I would suggest that you ask these ladies to pray for you as they receive high favor from the Lord. He is “a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5). ey oen mention that the Lord is their husband now!

Six months out of the year, these ladies meet for lunch on the first Sunday of each month in e Commons.

In December, there is a special Christmas luncheon held at the Swan Coach House. e time together is oen sprinkled with fun, laughter, and Godly inspiration. ere are currently 50 widows on

i n f or M at ion sunday, october 7 e commons contact Marion Sharp % 404/261-7004

* memum@bellsouth.net. the roster and each woman professes a deep love for her Lord. If you would like to join this group, please contact Marion Sharp.

Our next luncheon will be on Sunday, October 7, in the Commons immediately following the service. We look forward to seeing you there! “e LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow” Psalm 146:9.

CHRISTMAS JULY Christmas InINJuly T he annual Christmas Tea Table Hostess Luncheon was held on Sunday, July 22, with 50 special women in attendance.

Why are these women so special? Because each year, these ladies pour their hearts into decorating a Christmas Tea table, complete with china, teapots, and magnificent centerpieces.

Each year the tables are picture perfect!

As the ladies decorate their tables, they desire for God to receive the glory. ey pray over all the details and oen have a Scripture represented throughout the theme of the table.

For the second year, there will be

two teas. A brunch tea will be held on Saturday, December 1, at 11:30 a.m. and the candlelight dinner tea will be held on Friday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. e Women’s Ministry is very

i n f or M at ion Brunch December 1 • 11:30 a.m.

Dinner December 7 • 6:30 p.m. contact Carola Wangeci * cwangeci@apostles.org

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grateful to the women who decorate a table each year. Occasionally, a team of women will decorate two or more tables which are amazing! We appreciate all the time, effort, and thought given to each table, not to mention all the china carried in!

If you would like to use your china and decorating talents to decorate a table this year, please contact us.

We know that you will be blessed!

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Single Hearts For Christ S

SINGLE HEARTS FOR CHRIST ingle Hearts for Christ is a women’s fellowship that brings single Christian women together to enjoy, enrich, and support one another. What better place to be than with a group where people know you, pray for you, and encourage you in your faith? As we see it, every single, divorced, and widowed woman has different needs, worries, hopes, and dreams. But it is certain that each one offers a plethora of experiences, perspectives, challenges, and gis. In Christ, we have all that we need for life and ministry. If you are 40 years old or beyond, and looking to connect with other Christian women, we have an open invitation for you. Our goal is to provide a secure place for you to grow in Christ and to establish friendships with other single women at e Church of e Apostles. Come join us!

i n f or M at i on contact Jan Blakeslee * jblakeslee@apostles.org

+ apostles.org/women/singlehearts

A Single Hearts Testimony by Stacy Stubbs I am so proud and blessed to be a part of the new Single Hearts Ministry at Apostles. Although I’ve been an Apostles member for many years and “know” a lot of people, this group has introduced me to at least 30 new sisters in Christ, and THIS single heart is better for it. Let me explain.

As a 53-year-old divorced, (mostly) empty-nester, I felt like I didn’t fit the description of a typical Apostles member. I’m single, but I used to be married, so I’m not exactly one or the other. I have children, so technically I’m a “family,” but since my boys are (mostly) grown and gone, I’m really a party of one. Where do I fit in? Enter the Single Hearts Ministry, or, as I lovingly refer to it to my (mostly) grown sons, the Single Old Broads Group. (I can hear some of my sisters snorting, “Speak for yourself!”) e only membership requirement for this group is that you must be female (sorry guys) and at least 40, though we waived that requirement this summer during our Tuesday evening Bible study: we had both singles and married gals in their 20s and 30s—and we didn’t scare them off!

So what is this ministry all about? Fellowship, FUN, spiritual growth, and service. Our mainstay is one oncea-month (4th Sunday Lunch Bunch) lunch aer church.

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We’ve been to Carrabbas , Cinco, South City Kitchen, and Figo so far, and the attendance has ranged from 15 to 35.

At every lunch, although I sit by at least one person I already know, I always get to know at least 2-3 I didn’t know, so it becomes an ever-broadening circle of friends.

Early in the summer the group hosted a Game Night… on a Saturday aernoon. I wasn’t there, but the retelling of the aernoon’s events had us all rolling with laughter.

Apparently it involved teams and some amateur acting and…you get the picture.

But the real blessing is that the Holy Spirit is working through all these friendships and experiences to energize our spirits to serve our Living God, build each other up in Christ, and share His Love with other sisters. e Single Hearts Ministry will begin this fall to serve My Sister’s House, an Atlanta Union Mission residence for homeless women and children. Our initial objectives are twofold: to sponsor periodic collections of tangible goods needed by the residents, and to periodically host parties for the residents to bring a little laughter, hope, and love to women whose lives have, at the present time, fallen apart. ey need what we have (Christ!) to make it through this dark time in their lives. Funny, so do we. Maybe that’s what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us!

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by John horton

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n Tolkein’s e Lord of the Rings, Bilbo Baggins says to young Frodo, “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Soon Frodo begins a life-changing journey with eight others, known as “the fellowship of the ring.” You probably know the rest of the story. Tolkein’s unlikely group of Hobbits, Elves, Men, Dwarves, and a Wizard came together over a common bond and experienced uncommon adventure.

About 20 years ago, my wife Helen and I began our own adventure into the world of small groups. And while what we commonly call “fellowship” has been one of the benefits, there’s been so much more.

True, we also dig deep into God’s Word, but it’s even more than that. We’ve done life together. We’ve become like family. We oen wonder how such a diverse group could be brought together and become such. We’ve truly grown to love one another, deeply.

Like Frodo and his companions, our Apostles small group has stepped “into the Road” and we have been amazed and delighted, joyful and sorrowful, terrified and glorified, foolish and wise, healthy and sick, and much more. We have been there with and for one another.

Earlier this year, Helen had become quite ill late in the day with a virus. It hit fast and hard. During the night she jumped out of bed feeling sick at her stomach. e combination of flu, fever, and rising very quickly from the bed caused her to faint. e first point of contact with the hardwood floor of our bedroom was the back of her head. She didn’t know where she was.

My first thought was, “time to go to the ER!” My second thought was, “if I take her to the ER in only her nightgown and she survives, she’ll kill me!” What’s the proper attire for a lady on the way to the ER? en she couldn’t remember that our son was away at college. Never mind the wardrobe, here’s your robe and slippers. Let’s go!

Shortly aer arriving in the ER, Helen was taken to have

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an MRI. I had been praying but I suddenly felt alone. I also felt scared. Who could I call? Tim Coefield, a member of our “fellowship” came to mind. Can I call him at 3:00 a.m.? Sure, why not?

Tim answered the phone, “John, how can I help you?”

“We’re in the ER . . . Helen hit her head,” I managed to say. “She’s getting an MRI, and I need a prayer partner.”

“Bow your head, John. I’ve got this.” rough my tears, I listened and agreed as Tim prayed.

Within 30 minutes of that much-needed phone call, Tim walked into the ER. “It’s the middle of the night,” I exclaimed. “You didn’t have to come down here.”

“I didn’t have to,” Tim responded, “but this is what we do. How’s Helen?”

Helen was ultimately fine. She had a concussion but no severe or permanent damage.

Our group, however, had become even more of a fellowship, a family. is was just one of many impactful times.

Several years ago a couple in our group got divorced. It was a tragedy. e fact that it was two followers of Jesus Christ made it even more tragic. e details aren’t germane to the story except that there was plenty to pray about.

And pray we did. Just before they le our group the husband asked us to pray especially for reconciliation for them. e ink on the divorce documents was not yet dry and this guy is asking for reconciliation prayers! We continued to pray for them.

Two years later, Helen and I were privileged to attend their second wedding, to one another, in their backyard with their children in the wedding. It was a glorious day as God demonstrated His mercy, grace, and healing.

Genuine fellowship is a lot like a family, without the extra dysfunction. Susan, Tim’s wife, says, “My small group really is my church. I look forward to going every week. If I ever need anything, I know I can always count on the women in my small group.”

“Our group is a safe place,” Susan adds. “It’s one place

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that I can share my struggles, without fear of judgment.”

Dottie Page calls our small group her “family in Atlanta.”

She is from Mississippi where most of her family still lives.

Helen calls the people who’ve been part of our group over the years “truly my best friends. I know that they would do anything for me, and they love me for who I am.”

On this “Road” (life), our group has seen a lot of what life brings that you don’t get to see with 2,000 of your closest friends in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning.

A couple in our group had a young daughter and desperately wanted a second child. It was just not happening.

We consistently covered them in prayer, but aer months and months still nothing changed.

Finally a doctor announced a diagnosis of cervical cancer. “You’ll have to have a hysterectomy and probably some chemo, soon.”

“No, I’m going to have a second child. God has told me,” our group member told her physician.

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life situations — family stuff, job stuff, children and grandchildren — you know, real life.”

Tim recalls, “Susan and I had been married less than four months when we joined the small group. Even though we were new to Apostles, there was an immediate connection on our first visit. We felt comfortable and accepted.”

“Not long aer we joined, I lost my job,” Tim explains. “is was an extremely difficult time for us. e group prayed for me consistently and was always so encouraging to me. It was the support I needed.”

When a group has common purpose, it develops the muscles of longevity. Christ brought us together. It has always been His group and through Him we are bound together.

We’ve studied many books of the Bible. But it’s not just been getting to know more about God. We’ve gotten to know Him more intimately as we’ve trusted Him and

“

When a group has common purpose, it develops the muscles of longevity. Christ brought us together.

It has always been His group and through Him we are bound together.”

e doctor predicted death, not another birth. ankfully he was wrong. Some time later, that doctor was introduced to the couple’s second daughter and said, “I don’t know how that was possible.”

“We do,” they told the doctor. “Would you like to hear about it?”

Of course, most of our small group life takes place in a living room, not a hospital.

“When we’re together in small group, I just love the atmosphere. It’s an environment of interaction on such a personal level,” says Tim. “I love Sunday morning and the worship and teaching at church. But there’s something about being in a home, where we can talk about what’s going on with everyone’s

Fall

sought to apply the truths that we’ve learned together.

David, a group member, says that he appreciates “the opportunity to study scripture with a cross section of our church — to share thoughts, ideas, and insights among people with different life experiences and perspectives.”

Together, we have experienced births and deaths, hirings and firings, losses and gains, divorce and marriage, peace and turmoil, and lots of family.

We’ve sought God’s Word, prayed together (a lot), served one another, developed trust, laughed together (a lot), nurtured one another’s faith, learned to love better, and grown in our walks with Christ.

All this is vital to living life. Bilbo must have been right: “there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

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S

peaking recently of the new Apostles at 5 service, Dr. Michael Youssef said, “For a long time we’ve talked about, in the leadership of the church, that we are not going to be a one generation church. So if you want to see the next generation, come at 5.” Following this announcement, Dr. Youssef immediately entered a time of baptism of new babies born to members of the church body. e statement and the act of baptism together were striking. It was a reminder that we bear a responsibility not only as parents but as the church to reach out to and teach a new generation about Christ. It is also answers the question: Why Apostles at 5?

It all began with a realization that the evening service could be something more than it was. Jonathan Youssef explains, “A number of months ago, the ministry team discussed the format of the 5:30 p.m. service at Apostles. At that time it was live music and a replaying of the 10:30 a.m. service from earlier that day. Attendance hovered around 10-30 people.”

Fall

As members of the team discussed how to provide something different in the evening, an idea emerged. What if it became a service that created a space for younger members of our congregation? What if we created a service not limited to, but specially geared toward these younger people? ough e Church of e Apostles has separate ministries to college students, young adults, and young families, what if they were brought together for a unique time of worship? e idea continued to develop to the point where Jonathan Youssef ’s name was offered as the preacher for the service. In one of those moments when you sense the Spirit move, the ministry team members present all agreed it was a wonderful idea. However, they would need to approach both Dr. Youssef and Jonathan, neither of whom were present at the meeting.

“When I was asked if I would be willing to take on the task of preaching on a weekly basis,” Jonathan recalls, “I knew that this was from the Lord. I still took the time to pray and ask God if this was what He wanted. ere are obstacles that come with this responsibility, but I knew that they would be worth it if God was in it. I did not want to miss the opportunity to serve.” e Apostles at 5 (or A5) service began on August 5, with Jonathan choosing to start a series in Acts. He says, “As I thought of the opportunity to preach regularly at e Church of e Apostles, I began to think about what it means to be an apostle or a “sent one.” Since this was the beginning of a ministry, I felt like a study of the book of Acts was most fitting. Together we will look at the obstacles the Apostles and disciples faced as they attempted to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, just as we are commanded to do.”

With a cross section of ages represented on the opening evening, Jonathan has hopes the Lord will grow this small group of people into a unique worship experience for the next generation: “I know we are a small group now, but Lord willing, this ministry will grow and include students, young adults, young married couples, young families, and anyone who wants to be used of God to be encouraged before they go back to school or work and be a disciple, a representative, and an ambassador for Jesus Christ.”

Tyler Jones, one of the students that the A5 service is designed to target, had good things to say of his experience of the service. “I like the small church feel in a big

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church, and that it's a lot more relaxed and laid back,” he noted. “Jonathan is very engaging and entertaining which keeps your interest. Also, his messages so far have been perfectly relevant to things going on in my life.”

“I personally love this series he’s doing,” Amy Peacock, a college senior, offered. “ey’ve been very clear, challenging messages and I know that I'm not alone in feeling this way. I honestly love the extra service, because it is more time for fellowship, worship, and learning.” e A5 service functions as more than just an evening service. It provides a generational bridge. It is a place where the unchanging truths of the Gospel can be spoken in the language of a generation whose worship preferences have changed from those of the previous generation. ough styles have changed, Christ’s mission for this generation is the same as that first generation who bore witness to the risen Lord. In his first message, Jonathan points to this unchanging truth: “We, too, are commanded to take the Gospel to Jerusalem (home), Judea and Samaria (surrounding areas) and to the ends of the earth (self-explanatory). Our first sermon had three points: Know the Message, See the Mission field, and have the right Motive. is is what the church should know, see, and do today, and that is why these messages are so pertinent to us now.”

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Toward that end, we pray that God will continue to gather the next generation. at they might preserve the mission of e Church of e Apostles which is the mission the Lord le to us: Reaching the Lost and Equipping the Saints for the Work of Ministry. e Apostles at Five service meets on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. in the Ayoub Memorial Chapel.

We encourage you to tell your friends about this new ministry and come visit Apostles at 5.

How to Contact Us Phone: 404.842.0200 fax: 404.266.0656 email: apostles@apostles.org Web: www.apostles.org

Worship sunday î‚ťe Gathering of the Body 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. sunday evening 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday hour of Power 6:15 p.m.

Discipleship sunday 9:00 a.m.

Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef 1781 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Phone: 404.841.0100 order: 1.800.337.5323 Web: www.leadingtheway.org